Ms. Grimes holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Education from the Hartt School of Music, Connecticut and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Catholic University, Washington, DC. Ms. Grimes' primary instruments are violin/viola; she is also proficient on piano, cello and trumpet. She has over 25 years experience in working with young children, the last 15 as Director of the Smiling Strings program. A member of the American String Teacher's Association where she was a 2006 National Conference presenter, her public school orchestras consistently receive superior ratings at the CPS Elementary Music Festivals and she has appeared as a guest conductor for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Ms. Grimes is also the Music Director and Co-founder of the Northside Youth Symphony, a non-profit organization comprised of elementary/middle schoolers that rehearse at Northside College Prep HS representing students from approximately 25 North Side schools. Ms. Grimes is a member of the Lake Shore Symphony and in her free time enjoys world-wide travel and playing with her two young grandsons!
MADELINE CAPISTRAN, Violin/Viola
Ms. Capistran holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance from Michigan State University, and will obtain a Masters Degree in Violin Performance from DePaul University in 2010. She has been teaching violin and viola for the past 8 years, and is currently free-lancing in the Chicago area.
This is her first year with Smiling Strings and we are excited to have her!
TRAVIS ELFERS, Violin/Viola
Mr. Elfers holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. His main instrument is the viola and he is a member of the Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra and Buckingham Quartet. Mr. Elfers moved to Chicago last summer and is excited about his 3rd year of teaching, both with Smiling Strings and as a rehearsal coach with the Northside Youth Symphony. Before leaving Texas, he taught 6th and 7th grade orchestra in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District.
TAMARA GONZALEZ, Violin/Viola
Ms. Gonzalez has taught both violin and viola for the last 6 years. This is her 4th year with our program. She has received certification/training for Suzuki Books 1-3, as well as traditional violin pedagogy. She has taught both privately and for DePaul Community Music, Kim's International Music and, currently, the Sherwood Conservatory. Ms. Gonzalez has been a free-lance violinist and violist in the Chicago area for the last 7 years. She is currently a member of the Rockford Symhpony Orchestra. Ms. Gonzalez graduated with a BM in Violin Performance from DePaul University School of Music in 2005, and will obtain a Masters degree in violin performance from DePaul University in 2010.
MELISSA GUILFOYLE, Violin/Viola
Mrs. Guilfoyle graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998 and earned her Masters of Music Education from Northern Illinois University in 2002. Melissa's career so far includes running a high school orchestra program in Rockford, Illinois for 3 years, a middle school orchestra program in Deerfield, Illinois for 5 years and teaching Suzuki violin at the Rockford College Music Academy for 8 years. She plays in many groups including the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Club Chamber Orchestra and the Ravenswood Community Orchestra. This is her 3rd year with Smiling Strings.
ANDREA NOTT, Cello
Mrs. Nott received her Bachelor's Degree in cello performance from the University of Wisconsin -- Madison and her Master's Degree in cello performance from the University of Missouri -- Kansas City. She has been teaching cello lessons to students of all ages for 13 years, and has performed in many orchestras throughout the Midwest, including the Madison Symphony, the Rockford Symphony, the Illinois Philharmonic, and the Des Moines Symphony. She is also a member of the Oakley Street Cello Ensemble and is the general manager of the Chicago Chamber Choir. This will be Mrs. Nott's 4th year teaching in the Smiling Strings program.
SHAWNITA TYUS, Violin/Viola
This is Ms. Tyus' first year with Smiling Strings. Shawnita began playing the violin at the age of six through the Suzuki Method. She recieved a music scholarship through the University of Illinois. There she recieved a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in Music Performance. She is currently studying at DePaul University and plans to recieve her Master's Degree in violin performance in June 2010. She is also working on her Music Teacher's Certification which will be completed in December 2010. She is currently a member of DePaul Symphony Orchestra. Her passion is to teach and educate children in music from all different ages and backgrounds.
BRIDGET CALLAHAN, Violin/Viola
Violist Bridget R. Callahan began her musical study at the age of ten in her public school orchestra program in Portland, Oregon. She earned degrees from St. Olaf College, University of California at Santa Barbara, and is currently pursuing a Performance Certificate at DePaul University. She is also a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Professionally, she is a member of the American Viola Society and the American String Teachers Association. Bridget brings over six years of teaching experience, including two years as a teacher and coach with the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, to Smiling Strings.
HANS PETERMAN, String Bass
Hans will complete his Bachelor of Music in String Bass Performance from Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in May 2010. In addition to being principal bass for the CCPA orchestra and the Lake Shore Symphony, Hans enjoys playing upright and bass guitar in the jazz and pop music scenes in Chicago.